WSMA Leadership Development Conference
Registration is now available for the 2026 WSMA Leadership Development
Conference, May 15-16 at Campbell’s Resort on Lake Chelan!
About the Conference
This year’s conference will explore our evolving understanding of what it
means for physicians and their care teams to lead in today’s environment.
Physicians, practitioners, and patients are facing multiple challenges
unique to our era, including the politicization of health care, the spread
of incorrect or misleading health information, and increasing downstream
effects of social drivers of health. This year’s conference will feature
speakers and presentations that will look at leadership from underexplored
angles, including how to show leadership as community health advocates,
embracing evolving communication technologies to platform physician voices
and evidence-based information, and opportunities to harness cutting-edge
solutions to social drivers of health.
The conference features a weekend of engaging course content, including
both general presentations and interactive breakout sessions, delivered
and facilitated by experts from across the health care spectrum. With the
lakeside resort setting backdrop, family-friendly activities, and an
agenda structured with plenty of time for social events and recreational
activities, the conference provides an opportunity for physicians,
physician assistants, and clinical teams to develop their leadership
competencies in a relaxed setting.
This day-and-a-half educational event is for professionals at all
leadership levels, from experienced leaders to up-and-comers, from large
systems to small practices, rural and urban. Consider bringing your
clinical team—the conference is an ideal opportunity for fostering
collaboration, communication, and engaged team members. A discounted
registration rate is available for WSMA members; non-member pricing is
available.
Central to the success of the Leadership Development Conference is the
resort's family- friendly, beautiful lakeside setting. The Lake Chelan
region in the spring is a wonder to behold, with activities, wineries, and
much more to offer for the whole family.
Join your colleagues from across the state for a weekend of education,
networking, and recreation. You’ll leave the weekend refreshed, inspired,
and equipped with tools and strategies you can put to use immediately in
your practice setting.
Speakers and agenda will be announced shortly. This activity has been
approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
Attend this year’s Leadership Development Conference and receive a
discount on 2026 WSMA leadership courses
To support the further development of leadership skills for attendees, all
Leadership Development Conference registrants are eligible to receive a 5%
discount on
2026 WSMA leadership courses, including our popular Physician Leadership Course, Team-Based
Leadership Course, and Leadership Masterclass. To take advantage of the
discount, your LDC event registration receipt will include the special
promotion code to get 5% off registration to WSMA’s leadership courses.
Deadline for special room rate at Campbell’s Resort is April 14
Aside from top-notch faculty and engaging course content, central to the
success of WSMA’s Leadership Development Conference is the
family-friendly, beautiful lakeside setting at Campbell’s Resort. But
don’t delay—rooms at Campbell’s Resort go fast. The deadline to book rooms
at WSMA’s special conference rate is Tuesday, April 14 or until our room
block is full. Please call the resort directly at 1.800.553.8225 for room
reservations and ask for the WSMA special room rates: $188 for a
traditional room and $218 for a deluxe room.
Friday, May 15
7:30 a.m. - Check-in and networking breakfast
8 a.m. - Opening remarks
- Bridget Bush, MD, FASA, WSMA President
SOCIAL DRIVERS OF HEALTH
8:15 a.m. - KEYNOTE: Policy and Nutrition Access
– Jim Krieger, MD, MPH, Healthy Food America
9:15 a.m. - TBD
10 a.m. - Networking break
10:30 a.m. - Help Me Grow showcase
- Help Me Grow speaker & regional affiliate
Noon – Lunch
1 p.m. - Plenary session - Marie Spiker, PhD
2:30 p.m. - Networking break
LEADERSHIP IN ACTION: WSMA MEMBER HIGHLIGHTS
3-5 p.m. Breakout sessions (choose two sessions; each session is held
at both 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.)
-
Option A:
Using Social Media to Communicate Health Information
- Lora Shahine, MD
-
Option B: Diabetes Resource Kit
- Bindu Nayak, MD, and Emely Barragan, MPH
-
Option C:
Legislative Advocacy: Public Health, Free Schools Meals, and
Health Policy in Olympia
– Sen. Marcus Riccelli
6:00 pm - Reception
6:30 pm - Family Dinner
7:15 pm - Family Ice Cream Social
Saturday, May 16
7:00 a.m. - Networking breakfast
BUILDING TRUST IN PRACTICE
8 a.m. - KEYNOTE: Health Communication
– Kelly Casperson, MD
Breakout sessions
Attendees choose one breakout session
9 a.m. - Food Insecurity Screening Workshop
– Jennifer Maxwell, MD, and Gabrielle Frank, RD
9 a.m. - Disagreeing Better
– Heather Sulejman
10 a.m. – Networking break
10:15 a.m. -
Perspectives in Public Health panel discussion –
Moderator: Bridget Bush, MD; panelists: Jens Metzger, MD, Gregory
Engel, MD, and Bindu Nayak, MD
11:00 a.m. – Plenary session TBD
- Patty Burgin, Rhumeena Bhalla, MD, & Karen Souter, MD
Noon - Adjourn
Speakers and Presentations
Friday Keynote: Jim Krieger, MD, MPH
Jim Krieger, MD, MPH, is a clinical professor emeritus at the
University of Washington School of Public Health and executive
director of Healthy Food America. He previously worked for 25 years at
Public Health – Seattle & King County as chief of chronic disease
prevention and assessment, policy development, and epidemiology.
He has contributed to implementation of the nation’s second menu
labeling regulation, adoption of sweetened beverage taxes,
front-of-package food labels, and development of ultra-processed food
policy.
He received his undergraduate degree at Harvard, medical degree at the
University of California, San Francisco, and master of public health
at the University of Washington.
Saturday keynote: Kelly Casperson, MD
Kelly Casperson, MD, is a board-certified urologic surgeon, CEO, and
founder of The Casperson Clinic, a modern practice dedicated to
hormones and sex medicine. She is a renowned public speaker, sex
educator, and host of the top-ranking podcast You Are Not Broken.
Dedicated to empowering women, Dr. Casperson blends humor, candor, and
science to demystify sexual health, intimacy, and midlife wellness.
Through her podcast and online courses, she tackles myths about desire
and normalizes conversations around healthy, fulfilling sex. Her work
also provides essential education on hormones and midlife health.
Connect with Dr. Casperson on Instagram at @kellycaspersonmd or visit
kellycaspersonmd.com.